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Day 4 / 5. Well were to begin. It is actually 0500 on day 7, as the reason for lack of blog has been no mobile coverage, except for a few specific areas on the mountain such as 100 meters above Kibu hut, sitting on one specific rock!! And no one is going up anymore!! So back to day 4/5 and I'll keep it to the basics as there are many personal stories to be told which should be seen from the specific persons view point and of those around them that were with them on the mountain on the 6th October 2009, exactly 120 years since Kilimanjaro was first climbed. So this is just a few highlights. From treking across the saddle towards Kilimanjaro, the altitude started to get high, and slowly slowly walking became harder and harder.
As mentioned before there was some kit preparation, food intake, throwing up, magic potion for altitude sickness of grated green orange rind and vinager. ( as the stuff for nausia from boots was crap). More throwing up , and then a few hours fitfully sleep before getting up at 2300 hrs and getting ready for the climb.
There are a couple of ways up Kilimanjaro, with the other one being more of a trek and this route from Kibu hut being more of a climb. The physical and mental exertion was beyond anything I had ever felt before. Just getting our three to four layers on was hard enough, as you started to boil before even getting going. Everyone got ready, with Jo and Brownie having nose bleeds, which they kept very quiet about. There were 7 exhausted and expectant faces sitting there getting some hot black tea down waiting for the off. 2400 hrs we were in a huddle outside for a personal mountain prayer for safety on the mountain and that we would all be looked after. Then we were off..
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